Thread cleaner



1927 P. DAUGERT ET AL THREAD CLEANER Filed April 9; 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR PETER DEL/652T HENRY FEE) JOHN J. owaaqrh av M ATTORNEYS Apr-ill 19,, 1927.. 1, 25,352

DAUGERT ET AL THREAD CLEANER Filed April 9, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 v v1 I I PETER h E/Vky T ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 19, 1927.

UNETED TATS PETER DA'UGERTfOJF WILKES-BARRE, HENRY FREY, OF KINGSTON, AND JOHN J.

\ DUNLEAVY, 0F PLYMOUTH, PENNSYLVANIA. Y

THREAD CLEANER.

Application filed April 9, 1926. Serial No. 100,789.

This invention relates to improvements in devices for cleaning threads, yarns and the like, and has particular reference to a cleaner for removing knots, slugs and lumps from the thread while it is being wound on bobbins preparatory to the weaving operation.

In the textile art, it is well known that, in order to avoid imperfections in woven fabrics, it becomes necessary to remove from the threads the sources of these imperfections which either originate in the raw material, or are due to the various methods of making the threads. Said imperfections are caused by knots, slugs, lumps, and other accumulations upon the threads.

Heretofore, thread cleaners have been employed consisting of plates of integral construction having slots therein. Other cleaners consist of separate plates relatively adjustable to form slots therebetween of different widths through which the threads are passed. If an imperfection in a thread is too large, or for some other reason cannot be removed by the mere passage through the slot in the cleaner, the thread may be broken at the point of said imperfection, thereby enabling the attending operator to remove the imperfection and then join'the two ends of the thread by a very small knot which will not present an Objectionable defect.

Certain objections have arisen in the use of known cleaners. For instance, with the integral plate devices in which the width of the slots remain constant, it becomes necessary to have a number of plates provided with slots of different widths and to replace a plate each time a different sized thread is to be cleaned. On the other hand, with cleaners having adjustable plates, it has been found extremely difficult to obtain very minute adjustments to vary the width of the slot and to maintain such adjustments while the winding machine is in operation and the thread is being cleaned.

It is, therefore, proposed, in accordance with the present invention, to provide a cleaner of simple and inexpensive construc tion which will overcome the difficulties inherent in known devices by forming the cleaner of plates which may be interchangeably positioned with respect to each other to present slots therebetween of difi'erent widths through which correspondingly sized threads may be drawn to clean the same.

More specifically, the invention resides in providing a surface of each plate constituting the device with grooves of different depths so that when said surface is engaged with a similar surface of another plate, adjacent grooves in the two plates will form a slot of a width equal to the combined depths of said grooves. The various grooves in the two plates being all of different depths, said plates may be arranged relative to each other in such manner that when each plate is provided with two grooves, it will be possible to obtain four slots of different widths.

lihe inventive idea involved is capable of receiving a variety of expressions, some of which are shown in the accompanying drawings; but it is to be expressly understood that said drawings are employed merely for facilitating the description of the invention as a whole and not to define the limits thereof, reference being had to the appended claims for this purpose.

In the drawings Figurel is a perspective view of one form of cleaner device constructed in accordance with the invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary top plan view, partly broken away and shown in section;

Figure 3 is a plan view of two plates constituting a part of the cleaner;

Figure 4 is a section substantially on the line 4.4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a vertical longitudinal section through the cleaner on the line 55 of Figure 2; v

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 1, showing a slightly different form of cleaner;

Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse section also taken substantially on the line 44 of Figure 2, showing the manner of retaining the cleaner plates in position in the holder and the means for releasing the same therefrom; and 0 Figure 8 is an end elevation of the locking member for said plates.

In the form of the invention shown in Figure 1, a holder 10 is provided in the nature of 'an angular bracket, the member 11 of which may be secured to a suitable support as by a screw 12. The member 13 of the holder is cut out to provide a channel-like structure and has its longitudinal edges provided with opposed grooves 14 for the reception of cooperating cleaner plates 15 and 16, presently to be described in detail, and between which threads to be cleaned are drawn in the manner customary with devices of this character.

Alter the plates 15 and it; have been properly positioned in their respective grooves, the same may be locked in such position by the use ot' a screw member 17 which is engaged in a threaded opening 18 formed in one edge of the member 13 of the holder. The threaded opening 18 communicates with the adjacent groove 1 1 so that the outer longitudinal edge of the plate 16 will extend into said opening and be capable of engagement by the screw member 17. The latter member is provided with a key Socket 19 in its outer end and is oi such length that when the same is screwed home against the edge 01 the plate 16 .to tightly secure the plates 15 and 16 in the holder, said screw member will be countersunk within the holder and cannot be removed therefrom except by the use of a suitable im plement, such as a key 20, made to fit the socket 19. In this manner the holder with its plates 15 and 16 is made practically tamper-proof so that the same cannot be manipulated except by authorized persons.

Many different forms of thread guides may be employed in connection with the holder and, as shown in Figure 1, a guide 21 is used which is in the form of a red, the intermediate portion of which is insertable into a slot 22 formed in the outer extremity of the member 13 at one side thereof and held in position by a screw member 23, similar to the member 17, countersunk within the screw threaded opening 2-1. In Figure 1, the guide 21 is shown as having its ends provided with thread loops 25 through which the threads are guided while passing between the plates 15. and 16.

In Figure 6, the holder 26 is in the form of a fiat member, as distinguished from the angular construction shown in Figure 1, and the inner end of said holder is provided with apertured lugs 27 through which suitable fasteners may be passed to secure the holder to a support. This form of holder is preferably used where little space is available for attaching the cleaner. 1 Otherwise the construction of the holder 26 is substantially the same as the one previously described. The thread guide 28 is substantially the same as the guide 21 except that the loops 29 of the former are of a slightly different formation. The guide 28 is secured in position on the holder in the manner illustrated in Figure 2.

The plates 15 and 16 are each made in the form of an elongated strip of any suitable material of a desired thickness and at each end of each plate the same is out to provide guide surfaces 30 disposed at an angle of about 15 with respect to the longitudinal edges ot the plate so that when said plates are arranged in cooperating relation the ad- I jacent guide surfaces thereot l'orm re-cntrant angles ot' substantially 91)".

Intermediate the ends of" the plate 15 the same is provided with a projecting portion 31 which forms on either side thereof the grooves 32 and 33 which, in accordance with the present invention, are of ditl'erent depths and which extend outwardly to the ends of the plate. The plate 16 is likewise provided intermediate its ends with a projecting portion 13% forming on each side thercot the grooves 35 and 3(', which are also ditl'er cut in depth from each other and from the grooves 32 and 33 in the plate 15. Suitable indicia, such as that shown on the plates in Figure 3, is arranged on the plates adjacent the various grooves therein to in dicate in thousandths of an inch the depths of the various grooves. This indicia may be placed on both sides of the plate so that the depth of any one groove will be readily ascertained by viewing either side thereof. It will, of course, be understood that the size of the grooves, as shown in the dill'erent views or the drawings, are greatly cxaggerated for purposes of clearness. When the plates are arranged, as shown in Figure 2, and positioned within the holder, with the two projecting portions 31 and 3 1 in abutting relation, it will be apparent from the indicia on the two plates that the grooves 33 and 35 at the outer ends of said plates between which a thread to be cleaned is to be passed. and which grooves have depths of four thousandths and three thousandths of an inch, respectively, combine to form a slot which will have a width of seven thousandths of an inch. If the opposite ends of said plates, as shown in Figure 2, are arranged at the outer end of the holder, then it will be apparent that the two grooves 32 and 36 will combine to form a slot havin a width of six thousandths of an inch.

eferring new to Figure 3, two other difierent combinations ale shown wherein slots of five thousandths and eight thousandths of an inch are produced by inter changing or reversing the position of the plate 16 with respect to the plate 15 and thereby combining the grooves 33, 36 and 32, 35. Thus, it will be apparent that slots of four different widths may be formed by interchanging the relative positions of the two plates 15 and 16.

Actual experience has shown that an opening of five thousandths of an inch is sufficiently small for the cleaning of the finert silk threads used in actual manufacture. However, should smaller openings be desired, another plate could be provided, the inner edge of which could have a perfectly plane surface or face, and used in combination with either of the two plates 15 and tion and rovided with means which, when,

16,-01' two other plates could be provided each having grooves therein of one thousandth and three thousandths of an inch which could be combined to form slots of two and four thousandths of an inch.

In the same manner, shouldit be necessary to have slots of widths in excess of eight ,thousandths of an inch, and it has been found in act'ual practice thatslots of twelve thousandths of an inch in width are sometimes required, other plates may be provided with grooves of different depths which, when comblned, will produce a slot ofthe required width.

It is to be noted-that the effective surfaces of the various grooves are shown as flat, but-"these surfaces may be rounded transversely, if deJired. Such rounded sur-' faces are preferable, vfor instance, when cleaning rayon threads which may be easily injured by rubbing or chafing against the sharp edges of fiat grooves.

A cleaner constructed in accordance with the present invention is very easily 'assem-' bled and disassembled to properly adjust the plates 15 and 16 to secure different widths.

having means which, when said members are in certain positions relative to each other, present a slot of one width, and which form a slot of a different width when the relative positions of said members are interchanged. 2. A thread cleaner including cooperating members capable of interchangeable position andhaving adjacent edges in abutting ielasaid mem ers are in certain positions relative to each other, present a slot of one width, and which form a slot of a difl'erent 1 width whenthe position of either member is interchanged relative to the other.

'3. A thread cleaner including cooperating plates each having projecting portions on one edge intermediate the ends thereof,

adapted 'for engagement with the corresponding portion on the other plate, said projecting portion on each plate forming grooves in said edge on opposite sides of said portion, and either of said grooves combining with either of the grooves. of the other plate to provide a slot through. which is passed the thread to be cleaned.

4. A thread cleaner including cooperating plates having portions on opposed edges intermediate the ends thereof adapted for engagement with each other, the portion on one of said plates forming grooves on o posite sides of said portion, either of said grooves combining with a part of the opposed edgeof the other plate to provide a slotthrough which is passed the thread to be cleane 5. A. thread cleaner. including cooperating plates having portions on opposed edges adapted for engagement with each other, the portion-on one of said plates forming. grooves of different depths, and said late being capable of interchangeable position relative to the other plate to combine said grooves with a part of the opposed edge of said other plate to form slots of different widths. j

6. A thread cleaner including cooperating plates having projecting portions on opposed edges forming grooves of different depths on opposite sides of said portions,

said plates capable of being interchangeably positioned relative to each other with said portions in abutting relation to combine either groove in one plate with either groove in the other plate to form slots of difierent widths.

7. A thread cleaner including cooperat ing plates having grooves of different depths which combine to form slots of different widths when one plate is in one position relative to the other plate, and which combine to form slots of different widths from the first named slots when the position of either plate is reversed with respect to the first named position.

8. A thread cleaner including two plates each having grooves in one edge thereof which combine with grooves on the other plate, when said edges are arranged in juxtaposition, to form slots of diiierent Widths, and indicia on each plate adjacent the grooves therein indicating the depths of the grooves so that the width of a slot formed bytwo adjacent grooves may be determined by the sum total of the indicia associated with said'grooves.

9. A thread cleaner including two plates capable of being interchangeably positioned relative to each other and each having grooves of different depths in one edge thereof which combine with grooves on the other plate, when one of said' plates is in one position relative to the other, to form slots of difi'erent widths, and which combine to form slots of different widths from the first named slots when the position of said plates is. interchanged, and indicia on each plate adjacent thegrooves therein indicating the depths of the grooves so thatthe width of a slot formed by two-adjacent grooves may be determined by the sum total of the indicia associated with said grooves.

In testimony whereof we have aflixed our signatures.

PETER DAUGERT. HENRY FREY. JOHN J. DUNLEAVY. 

